As both sectors have a significant environmental impact the reports will make vital reading for those who want to see how seriously big business is taking its responsibilities.

The BAA report publishes progress on reducing noise pollution and improving air quality near airports, as well as looking at the global impact of the aviation industry on climate change and considering how this might be addressed.

Meanwhile, the BCA report gives a breakdown of how the cement industry has improved its environmental performance over the last eight years.

Since 1998 it has reduced its CO2 emissions by 18.5%, reduced fossil fuel use by a quarter, mainly by using waste to fuel its plants, cut the emissions of a variety of pollutants and made efforts to remediate former quarries and improve biodiversity.

Its biggest achievement, perhaps, is the reduction of waste going to landfill, with the industry now dumping around a quarter of the waste it was producing in 1998 and using much more waste from the construction industry in the manufacturing of its cement.

Sam Bond

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe